Ventilating shutter on venetian blinds



Jan. 30, 1940. MlsHLENIcK 2,188,300

VENTILATING SHUTTER ON VENETIAN BLIND S Filed March 22, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Mar M504 EN/CK.

Jan. 30, 1940. M|5HLEN|cK 2,188,300

VENTILATING SHUTTER 0N VENETIAN BLINDS Filed March 22, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENIOR. MCK MsI/LEN/c K.

Q/MQW) ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,188,300 VENTILATING SHUTTER ONVENETIAN BLINDS Nick Mishlenick, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 22,1989, Serial No. 263,390

10 Claims.

The principal object of the invention is to.

' provide a Venetian blind structure adapted for installation eitherexteriorly or interiorly of a window structure and including a pluralityof slats operatively connected together at their ends by a lazy-tongs ortoggle linkage operatively mounted within a frame including guide tracksto be affixed to each side of the window structure.

A further object of the invention is'to provide a locking mechanism tobe housed within a casing interconnecting the guide tracks at theirlower ends and forming the bottom of the frame and arranged to lock theVenetian blinds in their lowered position, the Venetian blinds furtherincluding a latch mechanism for locking the slats thereof in any desiredadjustedposition aswell as for locking the Venetian blind' in its uppermost raised position..

with the foregoing and other objects in view. the invention resides inthe :novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed.

- it being understood.thatchanges inthe precise embodiment of theinvention. herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what isclaimedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. c 7

A practical embodiment of the invention is-,il-. lustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a view of a window from :the"inside of the building, with two sets of Venetian blinds, both y Fig. 2is a view similar to Fig.1,but the top set of Venetian blindsisishown'raised. while the lower set is shown open.

Fig. 3 is a view of a window from the outside of the building with amodified form of single Venetian blind, shown closed, foranentirewlndow.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial detail view of the Venetian blind lockingmechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-, Fig. 2. Fig.- 6 is an enlargedsideelevatlonal view of the Venetian blind raising mechanism in loweredposition. Fi '7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the raisingmechanism in raised position.

Fig. 8 is a detail viewoi a guide Fig. 9 is a plan insection of thebottom horizontal or the name supporting the Venetian blind-: showin:

mechanism used to keep the Venetian blind in its lowered position. vReferring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, and particularlyto Figs. 1 and 2, l0 denotes the supporting frame of a Venetian '5 blindwhich is formed to snugly fit within onehalf. of a window opening, therebeing utilized in the window two such frames in superposed relation asclearly shown. In Fig. 3 a single frame "la is utilized which fitsentirely within 10 the window openingand as mounted is shown disposedexteriorly of the window while the halfframes in shown in Figs. 1 and 2,are disposed 'interiorly of the window.

netian blind construction, locking and latching 15 mechanisms as well asoperating mechanism are identical regardless of the size of framesupporting structure, a description will only be given as to. one framesupporting structure it and Ve netian blind H suppo t thereby. 20 Theframe it comprises vertical guide tracks I2 formedpreferably of sheetmetal rectangular in cross-section and provided on its inner face Itwith a longitudinal center slot it. At their lower "ends the guidetracks I! are rigidly con- 25 nected in any desired manner by ahorizontal frame member 1! .of wood or metaL'a similar frame member [5being connected to the upper ends'o! the guide tracks. Obviously thewidth and length of the window opening will determine sothe dimensionsof the guide tracks 12 and upper and lower horizontal members I! and i6which in'their interconnected relation define the frame supportingstructure It, which is attached to the window frame ll by means ofscrews such 88- as", as shown in'Fig. 5.

Arranged within each guide track I! is a toggle linkage 2|! of thelazy-tongs or parallelogram type comprising crossed links 2| pivotallyconnected at their centers as at '22, and at their ends 4w as at 21c seeFig. 6. The length of the lazytongs linkage in is such that in itsextended position it will substantially equal the length of the guidetrack l2. Fitted between the guide tracks 12 are the slats 25 of theVenetian blind 45 which may be formed of wood, metal or any othersuitable material. Each slat 25 is pro-'- vided at each end with anaxial pin 26 carried by a bracket 25:: which pin is so connected toeach-pair of crossed links M as to constitute so the pivotal connection22 thereof, the connection being such that the slats 25 and theconnected lazy-tongs linkage 20 at each end thereof form a unithandled-structure. The lowermost pair of crossed links H are pivotallyconnected by a Inasmuch as the Ve-,

pair of links 21 as at 28 to an L-shaped latch.

. mediate links 2|b is provided with an angular extension 33, bothextensions being on the same side of the lazy-tongs linkage 20.Connecting the extensions 32 and 33 is a tension coil spring 34 which isof a strength such as to contract the lazy-tongs linkage 20 and therebyraise the Venetian blind as shownin-Figs. 2 and '7. As the lazy-tongslinkages 20 are completely housed within the guide tracks l2, theraising or lowering of the Venetian blind is guided thereby, the slats25 being retained in their vertical relationship by the pins 26 slidablyguided within the,

slots I 4 of the track guides l2. 4

In order to simultaneously rotate the slats 25 into open or closedposition, the same are connected together at their forward edges by alazytongs linkage 35, comprising crossed links 36 pivotally connectedtogether at their centers as at 31 and at their ends as at 38. Securedto the forward edge 25a of each slat 25 is a clip 46 having ears 4|between which is'rotatably mounted by means of pin 42, a sleeve 43. Eachsleeve 43 has fixed thereto a laterally projecting pivot. pin 31 whichserves as the above mentioned pivotal connection for the cross-links 36.Secured to the lowermost slat 25 is a ring or knob 45 to facilitate theadjustment of the slats 25 into any desired angular position fromcompletely open, see Fig. 2, to completely closed see Figs. 1 and 3.

Thus movement of the lowermost slat 25 will be transmitted by thelazy-tongs linkage 35 to impart a like movement-to each of the otherslats 25, said lazy-tongs linkage 35 further co-acting with thelazy-tongs linkages 20 in the raising or lowering of the Venetian blind.If desired, in order to lock the lazy-tongs linkage 35 so as to preventcontraction thereof there is provided a hook latch 46 pivotallyconnected as at 36a. to one of the cross-links 36, .the hook latch 46'being adapted to engage an extensionv formed on the opposite pivot381). This locking of the lazytongs linkage 35 will insure a rigidinterconnection between the slats 25 to effect their simultaneousadjustment,'and will further act to prevent unintentional raising of theVenetian blind.

Attached to the upper edge 25a of the lowermost slat 25, see Fig. 4 atone end thereof is a latch 56 carrying a spring pressed bolt 5| pro-,

vided with a handle 52. Provided on the inner face l3 of the guide-track|2"and adjacent the latch 50 (when the Venetian blind is in its loweredposition) is an arcuate row of openings 53 each of which is adapted toreceive the bolt 5| for locking the slats 25 in selected angularadjusted position. Adjacent the top of the guide track I2 is anopening'54 which is adapted to co-act with the latch bolt 5| forpermanently holding the Venetian blind in its raised position, thusrelieving the springs 34.

In order to hold the Venetian blind 111 its lowered position against theaction of the springs 34 tending to raise the same there is provided alocking mechanism carried within the lower horizontal frame member |5.Formed in the frame member I5 is a central recessed opening 66 withwhich communicates an axial bore 6|. At each end of the frame member 5is an L-shaped plate 62 which is seated in a recess 63 provided thereforso that said plate will be below the surface of the frame member |5.Within each bore 6| is positioned a rod 64 the inner ends of whichextend into the opening while the outer ends thereof project outwardlythrough the vertical plate portion 65 of the L-plate 62. Secured to theouter end of each rod 64 is a latch 66 adapted to project inwardly intothe guide track |2 through the slot |4 thereof, said latch 66 beingformed with a collar 61 adapted to engage the inside surface I3 of theguide track l2 so as to limit inward movement of the latch 66 under theaction of the coil spring 66 surrounding the rod 64 and seated on theplate portion 65 and collar 61. Controlling the latches 66 are a pair ofoperating levers 69 having a scissor-like action extending within theopening 69 and pivotally connected therein and to said frame member |5by the pivot III, the inner ends of said operating levers 69 beingconnected by a pin and slot connection to the adjacent inner ends of therods 64.

Thus, with the Venetian blind I operatively placed within the supportingframe ID, the lazy-' tongs linkages 20 being housed within the guidetracks |2 in the manner as above set forth, the Venetian blind is heldin its lowered position against the action of the springs 34 by theengagement of the latches 66 with the horizontal flanges 30 of the latchplates 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. To raise the Venetian blind allthat is necessary is to draw the operating levers 69 together wherebythe latches 66 are disengaged from the latch-plates 29, the blind beingthen automatically raised by the action of the coil springs 34 in the'manner readily apparent.

It is thus seen that the Venetian blind as above described is easilyoperated and efficient and satisfactory in use. The slats 25 may readilybe adjusted and locked in any desired angular position'to effect anydesired amount of opening thus regulating both the amount of light andventilation desired. Further by virtue of the locking and guidingmechanism, the Venetian blind provides a construction that will functionto prevent entry through the window by a thief or prowler as well'as asafety device in preventing the accidental falling out of windows.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: .f

1. A window shutter comprising a supporting frame adapted to snugly fitwithin a window opening, a plurality of slats horizontally arranged insuperposed spaced relation within said frame, linkage means concealedwithin the vertical sides of said frame, pivot means connecting each ofsaid slats with said linkage means, said linkagemeans being adapted toraise or lower said slats, and means carried by said frame for lockingsaid linkage in its lowered position whereby to retain said slats intheir lowered position.

, 2. In the window shutter asset forth in claim 1, wherein said linkagemeans is vertically contractible and extensible, and spring meansconnecting spaced portions of said linkage means acting to contract thesame upon release of the locking meansto thereby raise said slats.

3. In the window shutter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slats areinterconnected at their adjacent edges by a' like contractible andextensible linkage for simultaneously turning said slats from an open toa closed position and vice versa, and means carried by said lastmentioned linkage for locking the same against movement.

4. In the window shutter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slats arepivotally interconnected at their forward adjacent edges by a like con.-tractible and extensible linkage for simultaneously turning said slatsinto selected angular positions, releasable hook means carried by saidlast mentioned linkage for locking the same against movement, and latchmeans carried by the lowermost slat arranged to coact with a portion ofthe supporting frame adjacent thereto for retaining said slates in theirselected adjusted angular position.

5. A window shutter comprising a supporting rectangular frame havingvertical hollow side members connected at their ends by upper and lowerhorizontal members each of said side members being medially slotted ontheir inner opposed sides to define a guide track, a lazy-tongs linkagecomprising a plurality of interconnected cross-links positioned withineach guide track and connected at its upper end to the upper end of saidframe, a latch-plate connected to the lower end of each linkage, aplurality of horizontal superposed slats arrangedwithin said frame eachslat having at its ends axially extending pins projecting through theslot in said guide track and constituting the pivotal connections of thecrosslinks constituting said lazy-tongs linkage, whereby contraction orextension of-said linkage will impart a corresponding raising orlowering of said slats, and releasable latch means carried by the lowerhorizontal member arranged to engage each of said latch-plates forlocking said slats in their lowered position.

6. In the window shutter as set forth in claim 5, wherein said slats arepivotally interconnected at their forward edges by a like lazy-tongslinkage for simultaneously moving said slats into varying angularpositions, and a releasable hook latch provided on said last mentionedlinkage to rigidly lock the same against movement.

7. In the window shutter as set forth in claim 5, including meansinterconnecting said slats for effecting simultaneous angular movementthereof, a spring pressed latch bolt mounted adjacent one end of thelowermost slat, an arcuate row of openings formed at the bottom of theinner side of the guide track adjacent said slat end, said openingsbeing adapted to be selectively engaged by said latch bolt for lockingsaid slats in their adjusted angular position. 1

8. In the Window shutter as set forth in claim 5, including a tensioncoil spring connected at its ends to vertically spaced cross-links ofeach of said lazy-tongs linkages housed within said guide tracks wherebyupon release of said latch means said coil springs will act to contractsaid lazytongs linkages to thereby automatically raise said slats.

9. In the window shutter as set forth in claim 5, including releasablelocking means carried by the lowermost of said slats for coaction withan upper portion of at least one of said guide tracks whereby to locksaid slats in their raised position.

10. In the window shutter as set forth in claim 5, wherein saidreleasable latch means comprises a pair of rods axially movable withinsaid lower horizontal frame member, each of said rods carrying at theirouter ends a latch pin adapted to engage an associated latch-plate,spring means for urging said rods axially outwardly towards said latchplate, and an operating lever arrangement connected to the adjacentinner ends of said rods for moving the same axially inwardly to effectrelease of said latch means.

NICK msmmnck.

